I haven’t been much of a brand name on Daily Kos for the several years I’ve been posting here. I’ve always wished I could spend more time here, writing more substantial diaries and comments. My poor wife occasionally wishes I would spend a little less time here, though, and as we head into the wild world of multiple children, I know she’s right. I also have a lot of work on my plate in the immediate future, so I need to go cold turkey for at least three months.
Too bad, since the political scene is getting very interesting these days, and --huzzah! -- the news is not ALL bad. (Except from Iraq, of course. There is no silver lining there, despite the relentless efforts of our country’s powerful propagandists.)
My time at Daily Kos has encompassed a lot of tragedy in this country. I got here shortly after the Iraq invasion – the reason many of us were sparked towards greater political activism, I suspect. Pretty shortly after that followed the 2004 elections, with its attendant heartbreaks. And then Katrina. For a time it seemed as though we were fated to experience disappointment and despair, in a constant loop.
This cycle of tragedy brought me down very low at times. I’m a recovering alcoholic, and at times there's been a real temptation towards renewing that old nihilism: an attitude of "just screw it; life is a sick joke, might as well get wasted."
Several things always brought me back from the brink of that ugliness. My family is first: a wonderful wife, and -- as of two years ago -- an amazing, funny daughter. I’ve been very lucky in my work lately too, in an arena (the "arts and entertainment" field, if I were filling out a survey) where it’s hard to survive.
But a burgeoning sense of political community has been vital too. I’ve gotten involved in activism at a local level – not nearly as much as I’d have liked, but enough to feel like a tiny part of the solution. And I’ve kept in touch with fellow liberals, progressives, Democrats, (your preferred name here) at Daily Kos.
This place has given me hope, a thing I had little of back in 2003 -- 2004. And it’s helped keep me away from the lure of addiction. It's also given me an excellent education. I was something of a political naif when I first started showing up around these parts.
There have been times when I’ve still felt overwhelmed by the suffering in this world, and I’ve wanted to escape back to drugs and booze. Having our first child brought me a lot of joy, but it also made visceral the horror of this simple idea: children in a country at war. Holding my little daughter, it seemed too cruel a thing to believe that other little children around the world live with bombs and gunfire blasting around them, and often die from these weapons. I felt the same despair when I saw women holding young babies around the Superdome in New Orleans after Katrina, begging for water, milk, and diapers. How could that BE?
But I’ve been lucky in life, so I know it’s my sacred duty NOT to turn away from such things. I’ve tried to learn what the Buddhists call "equanimity" – to be able to practice compassion for the suffering of others without getting so overwhelmed by it that you’re paralyzed. It’s still a struggle, as I’m sure it is for many of you here... but really, not averting your eyes is the least one can do for suffering brothers and sisters.
I’ve also tried to learn not to discount joy, beauty, and even silliness as part of life. The last is more than a bit ironic, since I make my living writing comedy. (My blogroll is a clue to that –- a former TV gig of mine is listed prominently.) In the face of such suffering, writing jokes has often seemed like a very hollow way to live. But a wise friend helped me understand that just as you can’t turn away from the suffering of others in life, you shouldn’t deny joy, beauty, and laughter too. It’s as real a part of life as the darker side, and it sustains us to face the rest.
Speaking of joy, beauty, and laughter... here comes child number two. Easy for me to say, since my wife will be the one in labor. I’m guessing that if I trot out the "joy, beauty, and laughter" phrase at the wrong time during her contractions tomorrow, I’ll get punched in the nose.
Part of my responsibility as someone trying to make the world a better place is to raise healthy, happy children, and give them good start in life. So I have to focus on that for a while. I’ll also be trying to step up my local activism, however I can. I've been slacking with that. And devote more solid time to my writing work, while I’m lucky enough to have some good opportunities.
So... I have to stop writing on Daily Kos for a while, because the temptation to spend hour after hour here is too great. And I'm succumbing. I love this community. It’s really an astounding collection of good souls, smart people, and smart-ass clowns like myself, too (undoubtedly why I felt at home here right away).
I’m tempted to make a list of all the people whose writing I’ve come to appreciate and seek out here, but that would be madness. It would be far too long, and I’d certainly leave out too many Kossacks. So consider yourselves ALL thanked and appreciated. (Except you. You bastard. Yeah, you know who you are.) (Heh. I kid. There really isn't anyone I dislike.) (OK: it's Meteor Blades. What a jerk.)
Know that I share your passion, your cause, and (for many of you) your twisted sense of humor. I know that as we approach 2008, people will be fired up about their preferred candidates. Fine. But do try to be kind to each other. Or at the very least, try not to murder each other. I don’t want to come back to a crime scene.
Since this is the inter-tubies, we can’t hear each others’ voices. But if I listen real hard, I’d swear can hear some of you saying... "Just LEAVE already. Good god!"
Take care folks. Have a great summer.
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